Both men and women in the UK are increasingly turning to cosmetic surgery to alter their appearance, spending around £2.3bn a year on cosmetic treatments. The growing popularity of cosmetic surgery procedures in the UK has been reported by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPs) whose members undertook 43,172 procedures in 2012, 43,069 procedures in 2011, and in 2010, 38,274 procedures.

Of course, the more procedures are carried out, the higher the risks are that something will go wrong. Head of Medical and Clinical Negligence, Marie Neilson says “Cosmetic surgery is clearly potentially dangerous, but people don’t seem to treat it with the same caution and fear that they would any another surgical procedure. The rise in claims handled by Abacus reflects the inadequate regulatory framework of this industry and the increasing occurrence of patient dissatisfaction.”

“We are increasingly being approached by patients who have suffered both physical and psychological effects to the detriment of their health and well-being, whether from a breast enlargement, anti-ageing procedures, dental work and in more and more cases non-surgical treatments such as dermal fillers and Botox.”

The consumer guidelines set out by BAAPs advise that a patient should have at least a two week period between the initial consultation and the procedure to enable the patient adequate time to reflect on their choice and ‘cool off’. There is also guidance about psychological counselling, which is recommended in most cases, however in many instances these guidelines are not followed to the detriment of the patient.

As well as following these procedures, patients about to undergo cosmetic surgery must also be provided with a written guide, to include the terms and conditions of the contract.

We Can Help You…

If you have suffered ill-effects following a cosmetic procedure, at Abacus we understand that this can be distressing, painful and traumatic. With sensitive, sympathetic advice, our specialist team of solicitors will assess your needs and treat your case with dignity and compassion.

To talk through your experience with one of our dedicated cosmetic specialists, call 0161 833 0044 or email cosmeticsurgery@abacus-law.co.uk

About Marie Neilson…

Marie is an Executive Member at Abacus LLP, with 20 years of legal experience in the area of Personal Injury Litigation and Clinical and Medical Negligence.

Marie is a member of the Law Society Accredited Personal Injury Panel and more recently has been invited to join the Royal Society of Medicine as a Senior Associate Member.